Senegal

People

Senegal is a country of origin and destination for human trafficking victims. Children from Guinea-Bissau are regularly trafficked to Senegal for forced labour by Quranic teachers, an old practice exploited due to the high profits gained from child begging. Senegal is also a hub for labour agencies recruiting West Africans to the Gulf, the Middle East and Europe. These activities are under-regulated, which results in people being exploited and trafficked for forced prostitution, in destination countries.

The human smuggling market is not as pervasive as it was previously when Senegal was a major country of origin and a transit hub for people smuggled to Europe from West Africa. Currently, most foreign nationals in Senegal do not need a visa to be admitted into the country. Many international donors are supported by consulates based in Senegal, which has attracted the visa-fraud industry. This results in high levels of corruption, and Senegal therefore remains a major hub for document and visa fraud for people seeking passage through the country. Smuggling has typically been a low-level criminal activity void of stigma, and smuggler services are blatantly offered at transport hubs, and in conjunction with the legal transport industry.

Trade

Senegal is a relatively peaceful and stable country, although a low-scale conflict which started in 1982 has been ongoing in the southern region of Casamance. Since then, the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) has been consistently acquiring arms, for use in its insurrection against the government. Although the market is comparably small, Dakar appears to have become a choice target for traffickers, as suggested by increased arms seizures. Furthermore, there has been significant arms circulation in the southern towns of Medina Gounass and Diaoube, as well as in the more centrally located Touba.

Environment

The illicit flora market in Senegal has grown substantially. Forests within the Casamance region along the Gambian border have been largely destroyed by Chinese criminal actors and Casamance rebels, and after a period of intensive illegal logging, African rosewood is becoming increasingly endangered. Rosewood trees are illegally felled, smuggled across the border to The Gambia, and subsequently exported to China. The rate of trafficking across the border has worsened, and although a move by shipping lines to halt exporting rosewood has reduced trafficking, this is expected to be temporary. The former Gambian president has been accused of playing a major role in the deforestation of the forests, whereby timber was traded through a shell company. Living conditions of the local population that largely rely on tourism and agriculture, have worsened as a result.

With regard to wildlife crimes, fishing, as the main livelihood of the Senegalese, is becoming increasingly scarce, with the fishing sector severely affected by fraud and corruption, corporatism and a de facto monopoly organized or maintained by the state. Senegalese waters are categorized as overfished, with instances of local fishing nets being cut by foreign trawlers, with sizeable catches then loaded directly onto container ships. Most large fishing vessels operating illegally in Senegalese waters are from Europe, China and Russia, and there are mounting tensions between Mauritanian and Senegalese fishermen, who trespass into Mauritania's waters, and are met with violence. Senegalese artisanal fishermen have therefore turned to unsustainable practices, such as catching juvenile fish. On land, Senegal is a major transit hub for illicit ivory trafficking, and leopard pelts and crocodile skins have also been seized, as have wild birds destined for Spain. The trafficking of fauna, which includes lion hides and bones, aardvark feet, vultures as well as the scimitar-horned oryx, usually occurs for traditional Chinese and African medicine markets.

Senegal does not have an abundance of non-renewable resources, but illicit gold mining does exist. Illegal gold mining and smuggling mainly involve nationals from other West African countries operating in the south eastern region of Kedougou. The recent discovery of oil and gas could potentially increase the role of the illicit economy. Additionally, it has been reported that land lost to illegal logging and insufficient income from agriculture may force villagers to resort to gold mining.

Drugs

Cannabis is the most used drug in Senegal. The market is particularly pervasive in the Casamance region, where cannabis is cultivated by MFDC separatists. Cannabis production and sales continue on the Karone Islands near The Gambia, mainly involving Senegalese and Bissau-Guineans. Senegal is also a trans-shipment point for regional cannabis, particularly resin moving through Dakar into neighbouring countries. The country has become an important hub for cocaine trafficked to Europe and nearly all routes from West Africa to Morocco pass through Senegal. While some of the drug is consumed locally, the market is relatively small. Recent heroin seizures have been minimal, however there are a significant number of users in the country. With regard to synthetic drugs, the market is limited, however, Senegal is reportedly used as a transit country.

Cyber Crimes

*This indicator was first included in the 2023 iteration of the tool

Financial Crimes

*This indicator was first included in the 2023 iteration of the tool

Criminal Actors

Senegal is becoming a hub for foreign criminals due to the comparatively high level of development and stability in the country. In addition to Nigerian criminal actors, who have operated in Senegal for decades, primarily in drug trafficking, cybercrime and human trafficking, other nationals from West African countries operate as illegal miners and smugglers in the gold-rich south-eastern region of Kedougou. Furthermore, Asian vessels are often noted to be fishing illegally off the Senegalese coast, while some Chinese nationals are reportedly involved in wildlife crime, particularly ivory trafficking. There are many criminal networks in Senegal involved in drug trafficking and money laundering, and most have connections to foreign groups. For instance, the vehicle-trafficking market has grown substantially in the region, and French-based criminal networks involved in this market have representatives in Senegal. They are tasked with selling the stolen vehicles within the region, and subsequently launder the profits.

While Senegal’s institutions function appropriately for the most part, corruption is occasionally reported by local media or civil society. For instance, high-ranking officials were allegedly involved in timber trafficking in Casamance. Conversely, mafia-style groups, in the strictest sense, do not operate in Senegal. However, there are economic groups that seize criminal opportunities to make money and have the potential to develop into consolidated mafia-style organizations. Some individuals with known names, from influential religious families, are heavily involved in the trafficking of counterfeit medicines, and although there is government awareness, such actors operate with impunity and often enjoy government protection. Religious leaders also exert influence on the government’s decision-making process.

Leadership and governance

Senegal is a relatively stable nation compared to other African countries but is fairly at-risk to political instability. The government consistently prioritizes the fight against organized crime, with the issue firmly positioned on the country's national security agenda. Furthermore, significant progress has been made in responding to certain crime-specific markets, including timber trafficking, where a new forest code was adopted by the National Assembly in 2018.Perceptions of corruption are moderate, and the creation of anti-corruption bodies in the wake of the 2012 election was cause for optimism for many. However, there is evidence to suggest that these bodies are biased, as no actors from the President’s party have been prosecuted for financial crimes. In addition, Senegalese media have almost unanimously blamed the country's inability to make progress with regard to countering corruption, on a lack of political will.

Senegal has ratified all international treaties relevant to organized crime, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). However, the implementation of UNTOC and cooperation with other states remains weak, notably with regard to extradition. Nonetheless, Senegal's cooperation with its immediate neighbours, The Gambia and Guinea Bissau, has been growing. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Gambian and Senegalese drug and law enforcement agencies, and cross-border operations are regularly organized, and facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Efforts have also been made to ensure that Senegal ratifies the MEDICRIME Convention. Furthermore, a legal framework for countering organized crime exists in Senegal, particularly in relation to timber trafficking, cyber security and transnational terrorism. Senegal has also developed a national drug strategy and has initiated changes to the country's drug laws, however, some national laws are in need of revision.

Criminal justice and security

The justice system in Senegal is adequate with regard to prosecuting criminals engaged in organized crime. However, the judiciary’s capacity to tackle organized crime is limited, and there are no judiciary-related specialized units tasked with countering organized crime. The transnational aspect of organized crime is not fully integrated within Senegalese judicial practices, and there is therefore a need for enhanced capacity building for legal practitioners.

Senegalese law enforcement is often cited as one of the most professional and dynamic in Africa, despite a shortage of training and resources. However, there appears to be no specialized units of law enforcement established with the specific aim of countering organized crime. The country's extensive land borders are porous and cross-border crimes do occur between Senegal and neighbouring countries. Nonetheless, Senegal continues to maintain its territorial integrity.

Economic and financial environment

Senegal has made the greatest progress in combating money laundering among the members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. However, there is little evidence of high-level prosecutions, particularly for those with political connections, and significant money laundering activity still occurs. The country has a national anti-money laundering strategy, but it is lacking. Additionally, challenges with regards to ease of doing business may explain, in part, why many rely on informal practices.

Civil society and social protection

Significant action has been noted in the area of victim support in Senegal. For instance, a drug treatment centre, the only one of its kind in West Africa, opened in Dakar in 2016. Efforts are also being made by the government to prevent and combat organized crime, and awareness events around the proliferation of arms and light weapons are regularly organized. However, more can be done to help victims exit slavery. Senegal's civil society is extremely active and freedom of the press is generally respected. While a degree of intimidation toward, and self-censorship of, journalists reporting on issues of corruption is present in Senegal, the media environment is robust and diverse.